A quick and easy marinara sauce to make for pasta, pizza night or any time you need a quick red sauce. We use this as our base for many sauces, adding in extra veggies, a protein or beans to make the sauce a little heartier. See the NOTE section for easy ways to turn this into a thick vegan protein-packed sauce or a meat sauce. … [Read more...]

This Chicken Rice Soup is probably one of the easiest homemade recipes. You drop the items in a big soup pot and literally step away while it cooks. This is a great recipe to make ahead of time for a quick and easy meal when you have no time to spare. Using homemade Chicken Broth makes the chicken rice soup incredibly medicinal, healing and just what the doctor ordered if you are feeling under the weather. Of course using boxed chicken broth or stock cubes is also great and makes this soup even faster to whip up!
This version of chicken rice soup is a basic one but one that you can add to or modified depending on what you have on hand and your tastes.
For a fun variation, try swapping the rice with your favorite pasta or quinoa for a little extra protein. To make this soup vegetarian, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth and the chicken with some chickpeas or black beans. Try adding in some extras to spice things up (a little red pepper flakes), top it with some … [Read more...]

One of the easiest staples to have on your back burner….literally! Homemade chicken broth is one of the easiest things to throw together, takes no skill or fancy kitchen equipment, just a little bit of your time to reap the benefits. Vegetable or chicken broths are great to have on hand to cook beans or grains, throw into sauces, stews or to turn into the base of a soup. The longer cooking time will give you a rich medicinal broth that is perfect as a base for a meal or to simply sip on throughout the day.
ONCE YOU LEARN HOW TO MAKE THIS CHICKEN BROTH YOU WILL BE HOOKED!
So save those chicken bones and unused vegetables that you were thinking of tossing. Instead throw them into a big pot with some water and a few spices. The chicken broth recipe below is a robust one that will pack in the nutrients, like medicine in a pot. No need to peel things, just chop them up to fit in the pot. If I don't have all the ingredients listed (or the time to chop) I use a simpler version to make … [Read more...]

There is nothing like a hot bowl of vegetable curry ! Having parents who grew up in London, meant curries were a regular in our meal rotation when I was a kid. Indian also became a favorite of my dearest Maman, who was French to the bone, but having lived in England for most of her life, learned to love a good curry.
When I was growing up, curries were usually reserved for a weekend meal when Dad would hit the nearby Indian spice shop to stock up on the requisite spices and Indian treats like poppadoms he couldn’t get from our local grocer. Attracted by the exotic fragrances of the spices, us kids were pulled into the kitchen by the delicious smells, eager to help out and be the official taste-testers to help judge how spicy our dinner should be! Dad didn’t usually cook from a recipe but relied on his vivid memory of the curries he had as a young man and the lessons he learned from the Indian grocer below his flat in London who first introduced him to Indian food.
Fast forward … [Read more...]

Don't know about you but I have nights when I am scrambling to get dinner together. I love having this Lentil Bolognese Sauce on hand either in the freezer or ready to go. It's a regular in our pasta night rotation. Try making this on nights (or days) when you need something hearty, healthy and filling when you don’t have a ton of time on your hands. The sauce comes together in less than 20 minutes, serves well over traditional pasta, gluten-free varieties, on pizza, in lasagna or even over steamed vegetables. Lentil Bolognese is rich in fiber, high in plant-based protein and a ton of vitamins and minerals. This simple recipe is a great one to have in your back pocket when you want something new but quick and easy!
Can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Lentil Bolognese is a great alternative for Meatless Mondays or when you want something a little more substantial than a basic marinara. For any pickier guests at your table, puree the sauce … [Read more...]